Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1887-06-24
THE LONG STRAD.

afterward-when that big cellar door
slammed to, and nipped off the end Of
Margaret's little finger at the early
age Of seven. a&. Z.
Margaret was passionately fond of
music, but she could not sing, and her
encounter with the door prevented
her from being a irst-rate performer
on the piano She would not content
herself with anything short OF perfec-
ton; and so for years long and many
the music within her found no utter
ance. At last, after few gray hairs
began to show themselves among her
thick brown braids, Prof. Mohr ad-
yised her to learn the violin.
We spending some happy years
together in Germany, Margaret play
ing the role Of guardian grimalkin to
my kittenish innocence. We were not
related, but as inseparable as the
ladies OF Langollen. took drawing
lessons, and we were both deep in Ian
guages. In our free hours we were care
less and happy as lambs in clover, un-
til Prof. Mohr's unlucky suggestion
started Us on the road to despair.
We wese staying in Munich when
this misfortune overlook us. Margar-
ct was fired with enthusiasm at the
thought OF possibly being q good mu-
slcian at last. She was past 80, and
for a while tortured herself with fears
that this was zoo old to begin to learn
anything so difficult as the violin.
But they raked up for her benefit
many instances OF musical prodigies
turned out late in life, to the aston
ishment OF the world and themselves.
Perseverance, aptitude and health
would do wonders.
Convinced at last of the wisdom OF
her undertaking, and radiant with
hope, Margaret engaged master at
more marks an hour than would have
paid for half a week OF operas in the
Gal!erie Noble. She next commits.
stoned some Old virtuoso and dealers
in musical Instruments to ferret out
for her a. good violin from beneath the
dust and rubbish of ages. No easy
matter this, for Margaret had read
deeply on the subject, and would be
content with nothing of a later date
than the seventeenth century; and the
granting OF the cunningly mosaiced
sycamore must undulate under it's
golden varnish "like the setting sum-
mer sun on cloud and waye.'
At the expiration Of q week Herr
Bratwurst wrote from the TyroI, de.
scribing with tlowery extravaganza
the jewel OF an instrument he had I'M
earthed at BriNen, among the goods
and chattels OF an Israeitish gentle
man in the old clothes business. When
found, this prize was g. wreck, gone to
pieces under pillows of fimsy satin
gowns and theatrical coats of cotton
velvet; but carefully set together again
by the magic hand Of a Bratwurst. it
was worthy Of Tarisio himself. A
fragment at the back bore the precious
inscription, 'Antonius Stradivarius,
Cremonensis Faciebat, Ammo 1854"
And q portion of the instrument at
least might be regarded as the work of
this master. II was in shapea "Long
Strad,' and was q marvellous COM
bination OF sycamore, Swiss pine and
lemon tre5. The varnish was q de-
light to the eye and the tone-but here
words tailed Tor desert ption. The su-
preme moment arrived when, Margar-
ct was to see this wonder, and decide
whether or not she might call it her
own. 1t seemed like opening a. long
buried coffin, they were so serious
about undolng its box, which looked
SO worn and shabby.
Margaret was speeches with delight
when Professor Mohr played upon it,
went into technical raptures, and
eventually paid for it, smilhngly, the
price OF two good pianos. Connois-
seurs, even those not interested, said
it closely resembled an authentic
Stradivarlus, and as such was e. BAR
gain; SO | kept my surprise locked in
my ignorant bosom.
Margaret bought for her Jewels
beautiful polished and inlaid mahog-
any case, lined with blue velvet T.. IN
81 burst OF enthusiasm, embroidered
q fiddle blanket OF fine blue cloth, ON
which executed in gold thread the
treble clef, and Margaret's initials, NJ.
A. c., in beautiful silks. A spray OF
flowers was depicted beneath, and L
though hit the whole thinga masterpiece
OF originality and skill. 1t was lined
with satin, quilted, Wadded and per.
fumed; and the case, with it's blank
cts, would have made a nice bed for
one of the rolypoly Bavarian princel-
ings we saw in the street with their
squadron of nursemaids.
Strange, uncouth sounds began now
to issue from our little dwelling. It
was q musical atmosphere where we
lived, and people were prepared for
the spasmodic wailing and sharp
spiteful yells produced by beginner
On the violin. Otherwise l should
have been ashamed.
Margaret worked with y feverish en-
ergy, and must confess that she
made rapid progress. From early
morning till as late at night as the
police regulations allowed she fddled
as i for her life. She sawed the emp
ty air with her bow to. exercise GER
tain elbow mucles; played before the
mirror to break herself OF making
hideous faces, which caused me great
delight; racked her brains over har-
mony, and split her own ears and
mine with studies ahead OF
her capacities. Her energy drove
me to greater activity in my drawing,
which, however. did not bring increas-
ed pleasure. There must have been
something wrong in my character
that I was not happier forthis furious